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• half crown
  half crown

  noun

  a former silver or cupronickel coin of Great Britain equal to two shillings and sixpence: use phased out after decimalization in 1971.
• half-crown
  half-crown

  noun

  a British silver or cupronickel coin worth two shillings and sixpence (now equivalent to 12 1/ 2 p), taken out of circulation in 1970

half crown

American  

noun

1. a former silver or cupronickel coin of Great Britain equal to two shillings and sixpence: use phased out after decimalization in 1971.

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half-crown British  

noun

1. Also called: half-a-crown.  a British silver or cupronickel coin worth two shillings and sixpence (now equivalent to 12 1/ 2 p), taken out of circulation in 1970

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Etymology

Origin of half crown

First recorded in 1535–45

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

half crown half-crown

Shoppers had to learn how to use decimalised currency from 14 February 1971 Do you remember the tanner, shilling, florin and half crown?

From BBC ● Feb. 5, 2011

Freckled brown orchids sold at a half crown a bunch in Piccadilly, where the crowds window-shopped before late dinners or after big late teas in crowded Lyons' Corner Houses.

From Time Magazine Archive

It was on his right side, just below his rib cage, about the size of a half crown.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

He places a half crown like the one I received as victor on my head, but it’s made of a heavy black metal, not gold.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Uplifted by the possession of a half crown, he became contemptuous of the present, jealous of the past when such coin was more plentiful with him.

From The History of Sir Richard Calmady A Romance by Malet, Lucas

After weeks of non-payment the miners went on strike, upon which Mr Davies is said to have thrown his last half-crown into the crowd, proclaiming: "Have that as well. Just give me another week".

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2023

Gate receipts totalled £1,810, plus around £800 from the half-crown contributions, resulting in the event making a profit that was enough to ensure the British team could defend the trophy in the US in 1931.

From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2021

White-haired Dr. Davidson rushed into court breathless, flustered, 20 minutes late, followed by an infuriated taxi-driver who shouted that the defendant had slipped him a penny instead of a half-crown for his fare.

From Time Magazine Archive

Taxi drivers received half-crown tips for venturing out in the blitz.

From Time Magazine Archive

That I should innocently take a bad half-crown of somebody else’s manufacture is reasonable enough; but that I should knowingly reckon the spurious coin of my own make as good money!

From "Great Expectations" by Charles Dickens